Century windshield |
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SUNAPEE CROW
Senior Member Joined: February-06-2008 Location: Methuen,MA Status: Offline Points: 110 |
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Posted: February-28-2008 at 12:13am |
I know that I will be offending some..but I also have owned an'80 Nautique for 21 years. That is what brings me to this site. I have recently completed the rebuild of a '61 Century Corsair (AKA Resorter 16 for that year). The boat was a victim of a barn collapse that broke a lot of stuff including the windshield. I have tried A&A, Taylor made and some of the local fab shops to no avail. I am hoping that I might find someone that has a sister to this boat that might be able to provide a pattern.
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reidp
Platinum Member Joined: December-06-2003 Location: Mooresville, NC Status: Offline Points: 1804 |
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Rick,
You won't offend anyone here by asking about a Century, but there's only a small amount of knowledge and familiarity present. Can you post a pict of the boat with the windshield for the best shot at getting some help. |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Rick, Don't worry about owning the Century and asking questions. Now if it was a MC, it would be a different story!!
I'm surprised that A&A couldn't help. You may want to consider running a ad in the "wanted" sections of both Classic Boating and the ACBS Rudder. With the Rudder, I'm not too sure but you may need to join to run the ad. It's not a bad idea to join anyway!! ACBS |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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1961 Century Corsair
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SUNAPEE CROW
Senior Member Joined: February-06-2008 Location: Methuen,MA Status: Offline Points: 110 |
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That's the boat.. You have been to the Century Boat Club web site !! That's the piece of plexiglas that I am looking for. People have suggested just changing to another style of windshield but I already have $200 spent on plating the frame. I took a shot at making one myself and came close but I need a better buck to roll the bends. Last try I heated the end in the electric kitchen oven and bent it over a saw horse. I think I need to get more creative.
As far as the Master Craft goes... my son has one. Somebody has to turn the water the other way to keep the lake flat. |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Rick, I'm more of a wood boat guy and one just happens to be a Correct Craft. It's the reason I suggested the ad in Classic Boating or the Rudder. Why aren't you a ACBS member?? I visit the Century site frequently. DO NOT put something besides the original windshield back on that boat. Whoever suggested that does not know what it would do to the value or it must have been someone trying to sell you another windshield and they don't care!!! You have a relatively rare Century. With any wood boat originality is a key factor in keeping it's value. The fab shops you went to, were they plastic or glass? A glass guy is not going to know how to handle plastic. Are you using acrylic or polycarbonate when you tried it? Have you tried our new sponser? marine glass |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Rick, Fill us in on the boat. Are you restoring it and to what extent? What engine? Gray 327? I love the Century's because they would always put the biggest engines they could find in them!
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SUNAPEE CROW
Senior Member Joined: February-06-2008 Location: Methuen,MA Status: Offline Points: 110 |
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I originally purchased this boat in the late '80's, after I already owned the Nautique. I drove by it going to and from work and I watched it fill with leaves then snow, so I approached the owner and it was mine. At the time I had a good size Morton building for storage. I cleaned it up, got the motor running and one November day I took it for a spin. Motor and transmission were fine but oh! did it ever take on water! I barely got it back on the trailer. Back into storage. Mid '90's my son was in high school and he thought it would be neat to use this boat.
The bottom as I purchased it was the original plank and batten construction smeared with roofing tar then covered with plywood then fiberglassed. Long story short,we got the bottom off and all the frames were bad. At this point I had no intention of replacing the side planking. I had no wooden boat experience, with so with "Classic Runabout Restored" by Stizenstock as my guide we put on a West bottom. I was pleased with my effort so we started to strip the side planks. There was a reason the boat was painted. Challenged beyond my wood working capability I took it to a professional for a new transom, side planking and decks. In the meantime I changed jobs and moved from Massachusetts to Western Pennsylvania. The boat came in pieces. In the fall of 2005 I retired and finally had the time to work on it.I stitched up a new interior, detailed the motor,new wiring,working instruments all new chrome new rub rails. It is all back together except for spray rails and windshield.The motor is the 250 cubic inch version of the AMC block with the two Carter side draft carburetors.The motor seemed fine and I decided that if I ever did need to rebuild it I would start with the 327 CI block. At any rate, it is pretty close to all new and it is sitting in storage in Pennsylvania, now that I have moved back to Massachusetts where I have no storage. While living in Pennsylvania, I attended a couple of the Century boat club Spring workshops and they were very good! As far as the ACBS goes, I was a member and dropped out. Being a member of the Century Boat Club has been far more beneficial. I also still have my first boat. A 1950 Penn Yan Clipper Challenger.It is a 16 foot 75 HP four cylinder Gray inboard. All original never been restored. Hopefully there is a Morton building in my future so I can get all my "stuff" in one place. |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Rick, Sounds like you got yourself into a project! But to be honest, most wood boats are. You also found out that a plank on batten bottom is the only construction that DOES need to be soaked! I know several people with Century's who have done the West on their bottoms. They have all said that it is too soon to tell how it will work out. I do know that the West on double planks have created problems. I hope you get to put up your workshop soon so you can continue on. I'd love to see some pictures. The Penn Yan too!
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SUNAPEE CROW
Senior Member Joined: February-06-2008 Location: Methuen,MA Status: Offline Points: 110 |
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Here is a picture of the frame and windhield that I made. Like I said, close but not right!
The tough part is determining the centerline of bend on the ends |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Rick, It sure looks like you are going in the correct direction with the windshield. I suggest you don't give up and just try again. Did you made a cardboard template first?
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boat dr
Grand Poobah Joined: June-27-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4245 |
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Crow, I too am impressed,don't throw in the towel yet.Makes you proud when a plan comes together............Boat dr
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Munday
Gold Member Joined: August-17-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 538 |
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Ever seen this?
http://www.glen-l.com/weblettr/webletters-5/wl43-windshield1.html Munday |
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If the only tool you have is a hammer,everything starts to look like a nail.
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SUNAPEE CROW
Senior Member Joined: February-06-2008 Location: Methuen,MA Status: Offline Points: 110 |
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Thanks for the votes of confidence and the tip on the new website. I'll do some looking. Yes, I did start with a cardboard template and as you can see , I laid it out on my wife's sewing table in an attempt to keep it square and symmetrical. I just bought six of those rubber faced one hand C- clamps to see if I cant pull things together. I was able to upload the windshield photo by cropping it, The photo of the boat is too big. I will have to learn how to use Photobucket.
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